Read People! A How To

LifeTrainingOnline put together a rather comprehensive document on reading people and their body language. It’s a three parter that first introduces the principles to being able to be aware what people are saying without words, then through techniques of people-reading and then finally detecting deception.LifeTrainingOnline put together a rather comprehensive document on reading people and their body language. It’s a three parter that first introduces the principles to being able to be aware what people are saying without words, then through techniques of people-reading and then finally detecting deception.

Preparing Yourself to Read People

The key to effectively reading people is by being completely objective – having an empty cup so to speak. Overcoming our biases, prejudices and projections allows us to be completely objective.

Beyond the Words

Reading people is as much a science as it is an art.

The science deals with an understanding of the mechanics and principles involved in people reading; For example, you study all the cold, hard facts about what a specific mannerism could mean, what a certain tone of voice might suggest, or how the context of a persons environment may influence their behavior. However, knowledge of the basic principles is only half of the equation.

Once the principles are understood, open up the right brain – that part of yourself that does not think in terms of linear thought, words, or mathematics, but instead with patterns, colors and abstracts. This is the art.

Detecting Lies

As you learn to establish the baseline behavior of honesty, recognize deception clusters that deviate from this baseline, and progressively refine your assumptions through questioning and observations, you will be well on your way to becoming an amazing lie detector. Remember to look at things as a whole. The more patterns you can discover that seem to point in one direction, the more accurate your detection will be.

As stated in the series, it’s no easy task and doesn’t happen overnight. But developing these kinds of skills could be vital in successfully networking in business, let alone your personal life.